First Gorton ministry

First Gorton ministry

44th Ministry of Australia
Governor-General Lord Casey with first arrangement of newly appointed ministers to the Gorton ministry
Date formed10 January 1968
Date dissolved12 November 1969
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralLord Casey
Sir Paul Hasluck
Prime MinisterJohn Gorton
Deputy Prime MinisterJohn McEwen
No. of ministers30
Member partyLiberalCountry coalition
Status in legislatureCoalition majority government
Opposition partyLabor
Opposition leaderGough Whitlam
History
Outgoing election25 October 1969
Legislature term26th
PredecessorMcEwen ministry
SuccessorSecond Gorton ministry

The First Gorton ministry (LiberalCountry Coalition) was the 44th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 19th Prime Minister, John Gorton. The First Gorton ministry succeeded the McEwen ministry, which dissolved on 10 January 1968 following the election of Gorton as Liberal leader after the disappearance of former Prime Minister Harold Holt. The ministry was replaced by the Second Gorton ministry on 12 November 1969 following the 1969 federal election.[1]

As of 1 May 2025, Ian Sinclair is the last surviving member of the First Gorton ministry; Sinclair is also the last surviving minister of the Menzies, Holt, McEwen, and McMahon governments, as well as the Second Gorton and the First Fraser ministries. James Forbes was the last surviving Liberal minister, and Malcolm Fraser was the last surviving Liberal Cabinet minister.

Cabinet

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Liberal John Gorton
(1911–2002)

Senator for Victoria
(1950–1968)

MP for Higgins
(1968–1975)

Country John McEwen
(1900–1980)

MP for Murray
(1949–1971)

Liberal William McMahon
(1908–1988)

MP for Lowe
(1949–1982)

Liberal Paul Hasluck
(1905–1993)

MP for Curtin
(1949–1969)

Liberal Allen Fairhall
(1909–2006)

MP for Paterson
(1949–1969)

Country Doug Anthony
(1929–2020)

MP for Richmond
(1957–1984)

Liberal Denham Henty
(1903–1978)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1968)

Liberal Alan Hulme
(1907–1989)

MP for Petrie
(1963–1972)

Liberal David Fairbairn
(1917–1994)

MP for Farrer
(1949–1975)

Liberal Les Bury
(1913–1986)

MP for Wentworth
(1956–1974)

Country Ian Sinclair
(born 1929)

MP for New England
(1963–1998)

Liberal Ken Anderson
(1909–1985)

Senator for New South Wales
(1953–1975) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)

MP for Wannon
(1955–1983) (in Cabinet from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Gordon Freeth
(1914–2001)

MP for Forrest
(1949–1969) (in Cabinet from 11 February 1969)

Outer ministry

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
Country Charles Barnes
(1901–1998)

MP for McPherson
(1958–1972)

Liberal Reginald Swartz
(1911–2006)

MP for Darling Downs
(1949–1972)

Liberal Billy Snedden
(1926–1987)

MP for Bruce
(1955–1983)

Liberal James Forbes
(1923–2019)

MP for Barker
(1956–1975)

Liberal Peter Howson
(1919–2009)

MP for Fawkner
(1955–1969)

Country Colin McKellar
(1903–1970)

Senator for New South Wales
(1958–1970)

Liberal Dame Annabelle Rankin
(1908–1986)

Senator for Queensland
(1947–1971)

Liberal Nigel Bowen
(1911–1994)

MP for Parramatta
(1964–1973)

Liberal Don Chipp
(1925–2006)

MP for Higinbotham
(1960–1969)

Liberal Bert Kelly
(1912–1997)

MP for Wakefield
(1958–1977)

Country Peter Nixon
(1928-2025)

MP for Gippsland
(1961–1983)

Liberal Phillip Lynch
(1933–1984)

MP for Flinders
(1966–1982) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Malcolm Scott
(1911–1989)

Senator for Western Australia
(1950–1971) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Bill Wentworth
(1907–2003)

MP for Mackellar
(1949–1977) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Reg Wright
(1905–1990)

Senator for Tasmania
(1950–1978) (in Ministry from 28 February 1968)

Liberal Dudley Erwin
(1917–1984)

MP for Ballaarat
(1955–1975) (in Ministry from 13 February 1969)

Notes

  1. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 8 October 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2010.